Vehicle headlight



G. PIERCE VEHICLE HEADLIGHT Originalriled oct. 31, 1924 Jun 28 1927.

2 Sheets-Sheqt l ArroRNEY VEHICLE HEADLIGHT Original Filed oonsl, 1924 '2 sheets-sheet 2 /N VEN-rok drramvsy Patented June 28, 1927.

UNITED sTA'rE GEORGE PIERCE, 0E MONTREAL,

QUEBEC, CANADA.

VEHICLE HEADLIGHT.

Application filed October 31, 1924, Serial N0. 747,067.

The 'invention relates to a vehicle headlight, as described in the present specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings that form part of the same.

The invention consists essentially of the iiovel features of construction pointed out broadly and speciiically in the claims for novelty following a description containing an explanation in detail of an acceptable form of the invention.

The objects of the invention are to avoid the dangers to life and property incident to driving a motor carat night and meeting others; to dispel lthe glare and thus definitely outline tlie cars and their position so that the drivers may steer clear of one another as safely as in the full brightness of day time; to eliminate rattling and insecurity so far as the mounting of the lights is concerned and insure rigidity superior to the stationary the distribution of the light mountings and operating mechanism throughout the country for installation by divers persons without fear of bungling and consequent misplacement of parts; in other words effect a unitary mechanism ready for immediate application to a motor car; and generally to provide a simple, safe and efhcient mechanism for the aforesaid purposes.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the front portion of a motor car broken away to disclose the light mounting and operating mechanism.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic View showing the upright and glare position of the light and theoperating mechanism.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the slightly dipped position to relieve the glare for safety in driving.l

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the fully dipped position for driving in urban centers. V

Figure 5 is a front view ofthe portion of the car concerned, showing the light mounting partially. in section. Y

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, showing the self aligni'ngbearing.

Figure 7 is an enlarged perspective detail of the light mounting and 4*operating mechanism.

Figure 8 is an enlargedend view of the light mounting showing it in theupright position.

Figure 9 is an enlarged endp'view of the equal to if not` light; to enable extends in the socket 17 Renewed February `5, 1927.

light mounting, showing it in the fully dipped position.

Figure 10 is an enlarged end View of the 'light mounting showing it in the slightly dipped position. Y

Figure 11 is an enlarged view showing the operating means including the handle and toggle-joint mechanism.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.

Referring to the drawings, the brackets 12 and 13 extend upwardly from the vehicle frame inside of the fenders or front mudguards 14 and 15 as customary in present day practice. y

The sockets 16 and 17 are rigidly secured through the inudguards 14and 15 tothe' brackets l2 and 13`v and project inwardly and form supports for the bushings 18 and 19, which project outwardly therefrom.

The inner aligning tube 20 is slightly reduced at the ends 21 and is inserted in the bushings 18 and 19 and this tube maintains the alignment 'of bushings in their bearings from side to side of the vehicle and in out-- side measurement is a little smaller than said bushings.

Ther outer tube 22 is mounted on the projecting ends of the bushings 18 and "19 and across the vehicle front and encircles the inner tube 20 being spaced therefrom by the increased size of the said bush` ings.

The sockets 16 and 17 are formed `at their outer ends with the clamping lugs 23 and 24 respectively, which are fastened by the bolts, 25 and nuts 26- to rigidly lhold the bushings 18 and 19 in said sockets.

The light mountings 27 and 28 are formed with the customary mushroom overhangs 29 and secured on the outer tube 22 adjacent tothe ends of said tube by the clamp extensions 30 through which the bolts 31 are inserted and fastened by the nuts 32.

The. stop plate 33 is secured to the light mounting 28 by the screws 34 and is formed in part circular shape having the arc-shaped abutn'ient'surface 35 and the extensions 36 and 37 and the lugs 38 and 39 projecting laterally from said extensions respectively and carrying the adjusting set screw stops 40 and 41 locked by the nuts 42 and 43 respectively. j

i The flat spring 44 is secured ina groove 45 by the cap screws 46 and 47-and extends beyond 'said socket to the stop plate 33 having the bevelled tip 48 adapted to engage the abutment surface 35 on the top thereof against the pressure of the spring' in the upright position of the light and to rub against the shoulder 49 or rise ot said surface in the slightly dipped position of the ylight.

'.lhe spring 50 encircles the tube next to the stop plate and at one end is caught to the socket 17 an-d at the other end 5l en-A gages the lug 38 troni the plate 33 and acts as a cushion in the operation ot the lights and is not intended to return the lights to their upright position, but merely serve as a deterrent to undue violence in lowering the lights.

rlhe crank 52 is clamped on to the tube 22 adjacent lto the lamp mounting 28 and is pivotally joined to the connecting rod which extends into and is secured to the enlarged operating rod 54. y

rlhe rod 54 extends through the dash 55 and bracket 56, the latter having the out-- standing upper lugs 57 and lower flange 58 and means itor securing it to the said dash 55.

The crank lever 59 is pivotally secured between the lugs 57 and its sections GO and 6l are formed at an acute angle, the section 6() having a screw socket 62 in which the handle 63 is screwed said handle having the upturned end 64 and knob 65.

rlhe iange 58 is formed with a boss 66 and pin hole 67 centrally through said boss for the pin 68, the upper end of which is torked and pivotally secured to the section 6l and tc this pivotal joint k69 the operating rod 54 is secured.

The helical spring 70 encircles the pin 68 between the rounded boss 66 and shoulder 7l. ot the forked end of the said pin and is continuously in a state or' compression.

In the operation of this invention the usual travelling position of the lights in a dark roadway is upright, so that the lights `will throwa strong light ahead and enable the driver to see clearly any inequalities in the road ahead and guide the vehicle accordingly, but when another vehicle approaches his from the opposite direction of travel, the glare of the headlights will make his own vehicle invisible to the other driver, consequently in approaching he moves his light lever to throw the lights slightly 0E the vertical in a downward direction, thus the 'light rays while still on the roadway, are directed at a downward incline instantly relieving the glare and perfectly outlining the car to the approaching driver, and thereby eliminating all dangers in passing.

In the event olthe motorist reaching a city or large town, he dips his lights so that only a narrow crescent ot light shows from ahead, while his wheels and front oit' his car are brightly illuminated, thus proving an advantage in city travelling without any glare and strictly conforming to the regulations al'i'ecting city travel.

l. In vehicle headlights, a tubular mounting having the lamps clamped thereto, abearing member for said tubular mounting including an aligning tube reduced at the ends and inserted into short tubes ot greater outside dimensions than the aligning tube and spacing the inner wall oif the mounting from the latter and extending from brackets adapted to be secured to the vehicle and lever mechanism for operating said .mounting 2. In vehicle headlights, alamp support rotatably mounted, bearings tor said snpport, bearing brackets having sockets clamped on said bearings, lamp brackets clamped on said support, a return coil spring engaging said support, and a stop member secured to one ot said lamp brackets and having a retarding surface suitably engaged and extensions with adjustable stop members secured therein and adapted to engage projections from the bearing bracket.

3. In vehicle headlights, a lamp support rotatably mounted7 bearings 'for said support, bearing brackets having sockets clamped on said bearings, lamp brackets clamped on said support, av return coil spring engaging said support, and a stop member in plate torni secured to one oit said lamp brackets and having an arc-shaped reterding surf-ace formed with an abutment engaged by a spring retarding member trom the bearing bracket, said plate having extensions and adjustable stops in said extensions adapted to engage a clamp.

4. In vehicle headlights, a pair ot sockets rigidly secured through other members to the vehicle frame one having a longitudinal spring linger recess, a spring linger screwed to said lbracket in said recess and having a bevelled underside to its tip adapted to engage a stop pla-te, a pair of bushings held in said sockets, an aligning shalt extending across the vehicle front and inserted lthrough said bushings, ay tubular member mountedv on said bushings and spaced thereby from said aligning shaft. a pair of light mountings clamped on said tubular member, a stop plate secured'to one of said mountings, a cushion spring encir-s cling said tubular member and engaging a socket member and said stop plate, andv means for operating said tubular member to dip the lights and hold under pressure in their upright and dipped positions. f

5. In vehicle headlights,.a pair of sockets rigidly supported from the vehicle `trame, a pair of bushings held in said sockets, a tube reduced at the ends and inserted in said bushings and aligning the same and projecting outwardly and forming bearings beyond the sockets, a tubular me ber mounted on said bushings, and spaced thereby from said Sil aligning shaft, a pair ot light mountings clamped on said tubular members, a stop plate secured to one of said mountings, a cushion spring encircling said tubular member and engaging a socket member and said stop plate, and means for operating said tubular member to dip the lights and holdA under pressure in their upright and dipped positions.

6. In vehicle headlights, a pair ot sockets rigidly supported 'from the vehicle trame, a pair ol bushings held in said sockets, an aligning shaft extending across the vehicle liront and inserted through said bushings, a tubular member journalled in said bushings, and having a crank member secured thereto, a pair ot light mountings, clamped on said tubular member, a stop plate secured to one ot' said mountings, a cushion spring encir cling said tubular member and engaging` a socket member and said stop plate, and means for operating said tubular member to dip the lights and hold under pressure in their upright and dipped positions.

7. In vehicle headlights, a pair ot' sockets rigidly supported from the vehicle frame, a pair ot' bushings held in said sockets, an aligning shaft extending across the vehicle front and inserted through said bushings, a tubular member mounted on said bushings and spaced thereby from said aligning shaft, a pair of light mountings clamped on said tubular member, a stop plate secured. to the end of a mounting and encircling said tubular member and having an arcshaped abutment concentric With the tubular member, a spring inger having a tip adapt-,a ed to spring on to said abutment in the upright position of the lights and .engage a shoulder forming the rise in the second position and means for operating said tubular member to dip the lights and hold under pressure in their upright and dipped positions.

S. In a vehicle headlight, a pair of sockets rigidly supported from the vehicle trame, a pair of bushings held in said sockets, an aligning shaft extending across the vehicle front and inserted through said bushings, a tubular member mounted on said bushings andspaced thereby from said aligning shaft, a pair ot' light mountings clamped on said tubular member, a stop plate secured to one oi' said mountings, a cushion spring encircling said tubular member and engaging a socket member and said stop plate, a crank engaging said tubular member, an ope 'ating rod connected with said crank, a crank lever pivotally mounted and pivotally joined to said operating rod, a handle secured to said crank lever and a spring anchoring pin 'from said crank lever to a bracket support.

9. In a vehicle headlight, a pair of sockets rigidly a pair ot bushings held in said sockets an aligning shaft extending across the vehicle front and inserted through said bushings, a tubular member mounted on said bushings and spaced thereby from said aligning shaft, a pair ot' light mountings clamped on said tubular member, a stop plate secured to one of said mountings, a cushion spring encircling said tubular member and engaging a socket member and said stop plate, acrank clamped to said tubular member, abracke't mounted on the vehicle member having an upper pivot bearing and lower iiange, a crank lever pivotally secured in said upper pivot bearing, a pin secured to one section of said crank lever and loosely anchored in said flange, a spring encircling said pin bet-Ween the pin head and said flange, an operating rod pivotally connecting lsaid crank lever and said crank and a handle secured in said crank lever to the other section thereof.

Signed at Montreal, Canada this 29th day oit' October, 1924.

GEORGE PIERCE.

supported from the vehicle frame 

